Bangladesh (Commonwealth Union)_ State Minister for Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Zunaid Ahmed Palak, emphasized that Bangladesh and India are committed to collaborating on bolstering cyber security for both nations. He underscored the significance of mutual cooperation, which has not only helped in eradicating militancy and terrorism in both countries but also ensured the protection of their cyber realms against emerging cyber threats and attacks.
Palak made these remarks as the chief guest during the closing session of a 3-day training course held as part of the Bangladesh-India joint cooperation initiative under the Cyber Friendship-2023 program, hosted at the Bangladesh Computer Council (BCC). He said, “Mutual cooperation has helped us eliminate militancy and terrorism from both countries. So, our cyber world would be protected by facing emerging cyber attacks and threats jointly”.
The ICT state minister highlighted the historical cooperation between Bangladesh and India, drawing parallels to their joint efforts during the Liberation War in 1971. He further noted that both nations have collaborated in combating the COVID-19 pandemic and in advancing the development of a digital Bangladesh. Palak asserted that their partnership would extend to the realization of the “Smart Bangladesh-2041 vision” envisioned by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, an objective supported by the Enhancing Digital Government and Economy (EDGE) project financed by the World Bank. He said, “We will work together to implement the next ‘Smart Bangladesh-2041vision”. Regarding the Indian Cyber Emergency Response Team (CERT), Palak said, “We are very enthusiastic about fighting against cyber attacks and crimes, as the team is now working with us”.
Indian High Commissioner in Bangladesh, Pranay Kumar Verma, emphasized the growing depth of relations between the two countries, highlighting collaborative efforts in various domains, including connectivity, Information and Communication Technology, cyber security, and start-ups. He noted that a memorandum of understanding (MoU) had been signed previously to enhance cooperation in the fields of ICT and cyber security between Bangladesh and India.
Kumar Verma said, “The relations between Bangladesh and India are now at different heights. Collaborative relations in various spheres, including connectivity between the two countries, Information and Communication Technology, Cyber security and start-up have been expanded”. The event, chaired by BCC’s Executive Director Ranjit Kumar, also featured addresses by ICT Division Secretary M Shamsul Arefin and Senior Director of CERT India, SS Sharma, further underscoring the commitment of both nations to fortify their cyber security and ICT collaboration.
